The good news is, I finally got the picket fence stained on both sides. I like applying the stain by hand rather than using the sprayer because although it’s totally a tedious project, I think you get a better end result. Spraying doesn’t always get into all the little tight spaces as well in my opinion.
The bad news is I STILL can’t decide on what to do about the garden beds. Wooden boxes? Garden beds made out of stone? I am having such a hard time visualizing and I have no idea why. Usually I’m pretty good at this stuff.
But I need to figure it out soon because I’m already a week overdue on my outside planting! I should have had the spinach, peas, lettuce and onions in the ground already.
At least all the peonies I transferred from random spots in the garden are coming up. So that’s good.
Oh and while I was tilling up the garden plot, I found St Joseph.
Another area I’m having a hard time figuring out what to do with is this spot in the backyard.
My vote is to clear it out and plant grass. Dig up the 2 {what I’m assuming are} azalea bushes and the {?} diseased tree/bush and level the area. I like uniform and order in my gardening spaces and there is no other spot on our entire property that just has a few random plants plopped down in the middle of nowhere.
A few days ago we went to the home improvement store {for the 3rd time} to look at supplies for garden beds and a walkway and we both {finally} decided on the grey bricks above for a garden path. I think it will go nicely with the grey decking we already have in place.
But even after going to another two home improvement stores, there still wasn’t anything I was totally in love with to build garden boxes/beds out of.
We plan on being here a long time… So I want to get it right. The first time.
But at this rate, I might not have garden boxes or raised beds. đ I might just direct sow everything into the ground this year and wait until the right thing comes along. It feels a little weird to do that, to give up, but why settle for something you’re not in love with. Right?
Decisions, decisions.
I hope your garden plans are coming along better than mine.
Wishing you the best on this beautiful Thursday,
~Mavis
Kristen says
I say sow away this year, wait for lumber prices to drop, and build beds next year. It is all forward progress! No need for homeruns all the time.
Vanessa says
I agree – sometimes the best decision is no decision (temporarily, in this case).
Judy says
Exactly!!
Mel says
We’re also having raised bed issues. We have 8 matching ones that we love (they’re huge, indestructible, modular, and easy to assemble) and realized that we have room for 4 more on the far end of our yard (we have a lot of shade, so the pockets of sun are not always obvious). However, they’re out of stock everywhere, and I can’t find any others that are similar enough to match. We don’t technically need them this year, but I’m wondering if they’ll be in stock next year or if they’re gone for good.
I’ve also had a little trouble keeping plants alive this year. I often order seedlings online since we don’t have many garden centers and I only have so much grow light space. It’s never been an issue before, but I’ve had 4 plants arrive dead or die shortly after delivery. Strange.
On the bright side, I finally ordered patio chairs so that we can have a little garden seating area. They fold completely flat, so they can ship fully assembled. I can’t wait for them to arrive since our outdoor temperatures are still pleasant.
Monica Brown says
Maybe that is your answer, just directly planting in the ground as opposed to garden boxes of stone or wood.
Meg C says
I agree regarding direct sow this year and waiting for the âright thingâ since this is your forever house. Our 11yo cedar raised garden beds are in need of repair (rebuild, actually) but with lumber prices what they are this year we are choosing to a few small fixes & a proper rebuild next growing season.
Your fence looks really great and Iâm happy about your successful peonies transfer, my gardening book says they can be finicky about being moved so Iâm glad they liked where you put them!
Also, I know you like a uniform look to your property but Mother Nature really likes diversity. That little (albeit human made) island of bushes in your yard is likely a welcome refuge for little critters like bunnies or chipmunks as they cross your property and the bushes a nice little spot for tired birds to rest. Not to mention the helpful insects that benefit from that little island of non-grass. Sorry if I sound too preachy…my mom raised me on John Denver & one of my favorite songs has made a huge, lifelong impression on me. (Especially the narrated intro-Iâm weird, I know)
https://youtu.be/GljudwJorZw
Lindsey says
I agree with you about diversity.
Kari says
When we were moving out of state several years ago, our house was taking FOREVER to sell. The market was completely different then. My sweet Catholic neighbor came over with a St Joseph. We buried him in the rose bed near the front door, as it is supposed to bring luck to the home selling process. We sold our house not too long after that, so maybe it works?
Cheryl says
Oh yes it does. I did that 20 years ago and only a few days later we got a offer on our house we just couldn’t sell. Firm believer.
Phillis Patmor says
Planting directly in the ground is a good “wait for an inspiration” idea. We have six raised beds and have not decided what or if to put anything around them. This is our second year here. Our beds are still raised with grass path large enough for a mower between. It has worked well, and looks fine. Ideas do come to us when we wait. Enjoy seeing your progress.
Jamie says
You can always make garden boxes in the fall too and maybe you’ll know what you want by then after gardening for the 1st season. Then you’ll be all ready for next spring!
Elle says
I had decided early on in reading this post, just plant in the ground and don’t make a fast decision. And there you are at the end saying that.
I’m with you on permanent. We are in the process of replacing raised beds d/t rotting wood used 15+ years ago. We’re turning 60 in a few weeks and we sure don’t want to be replacing these when we’re 75+.
Happy planting!!!!
JJ says
Make that azalea bush area a fairy garden.
Kaia says
I 100% agree with waiting until you find or think of something you love before making a decision!
I think the spot around the rock would look great filled with spring bulbs! And maybe a bird bath and/or feeder, too.
suzanne says
That’s a great idea. When I keep the birds well fed away from the veg garden they are less likely to pull up my new seedlings. It does seem to triple the amount of traffic though.
Margery says
You could do a rock garden, making the large stone a focal point, or a turn the large rock into a thinking stone with butterfly loving flowers. A place to just sit and think.
Gigi says
I think the plants around the rock were put there so the mower could go right up to it without using a weedwacker. Iâd have done the same for low maintenance.
Margo says
I love that you found Saint Joseph in the garden. It worked…you bought the house, didn’t you?!
Cyndi Parido says
I love my raised bed made from galvanized metal. We used green sheeting and I just love the look. I saw the plans at the Family Handyman’s web site and my husband did an excellent job of making the bed and my dream come true! I’d post a picture, but can’t figure out how. So check out the website. Cheers!
Cyndi Parido says
https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-build-raised-garden-beds/
Katy says
For that area with the giant rock, how about a fairy garden?
JOAN RICHARD says
I found this about St Joseph and thought you would get a kick out of it since you are the buyer lol
Tradition says the statue should be buried upside down and facing toward the direction of the desired moved. … Joseph statue upside down is symbolic for the St. Joseph needing to work extra hard to get back to right side up and into a place of honor, thus helping to bring forth a buyer to purchase the home.
Kippy says
Waiting and just planting this yearâs crops in the soil is a great idea. Hasty decisions often donât work out. I also like the idea of taking out the rock, azalea etc and planting grass seed. Mostly because that water view is so great and the rock distracts from it. Plus easier mowing-no rock island to edge around,
We had to take out of the 15 year old wood framed raised bed garden due to wood rot. Going to get 40 gallon stock tanks to use this and hopefully many more years for vegetable garden.
Sue says
I’m h*o*r*r*i*b*l*e at visualizing spaces. So I empathize even though it’s a rare experience for you.
One idea is to make one bed of each style this year, knowing in advance that (unless you decide you like the whimsy of it) next year you’ll be removing the styles you decided against.
I also like the suggestions to wait out the sky-high lumber prices of the moment.
Look forward to seeing whatever you end up doing!
Katherine says
I like the stone area. If anything is living and growing, leave it! It looks like it might be a grave, by the way.
Susie says
I thought the same thing about it possibly being a grave. I would definitely plant around it, turn it into a little bird & critter oasis in the center of the yard. Bird feeder, maybe a birdbath or small birdbath-sized pond. I’m not into the fairy garden thing, but a gnome or three wouldn’t look out of place there. Any left from your gnome adventure? đ
Suemn says
That is so funny that you found the little statue of St. Joseph. My family has planted St. Joseph’s whenever they’ve had to sell a house but I didn’t recognize him just by your photo. Poor St. Joseph! ha!
Patti says
We do âLasagna Gardeningâ- lookup the book – it is layers of materials until you have a mound to plant in. Our output is tremendous using this method – no digging at all.
Dianne Labadie says
I agree. Remove the garden circle and replace with grass. This rock garden could potentially be a hazard to those at Camp Butterfield. If you want to plant a rock garden move it off to the side. It looks like it is in direct shot to the water. Wait…until you know exactly what you want. You may want higher boxes to take pressure off your back when gardening as you age. With wood so high in price, I would definitely wait until I knew exactly what I wanted.
Kim says
I love your crisp, white picket fence.
I like straight lines and uniformity. You always make your gardens look soooooooo pretty!
It would cost a fortune I suppose, but what about those cattle drinking tanks for raised beds. (I apologize for trying to spend so much of YOUR money.) I think they would last for forever and a day.
But, while waiting for inspiration, you could, indeed, sow directly into the ground. That’s what we do here at red maple farm.
I dearly love your blog. Thank you for entertaining me, Mavis!
Robin Martin says
I would put stuff in ground this year, see what works first and what kind of pests you have to deal with. Then as the year progresses you might luck out with someone getting rid of a ton of bricks or gorgeous stones. Maybe some nice building materials.
Judybee says
I would build the garden beds out of stone. It doesnât rot, isnât treated with chemicals, will last as long as you do, it doesnât attract insects and critters and it will always look nice! You might even match it to the fire pit! Thatâs my two cents. Whatever you choose it will be uniquely Mavis. Enjoy!
Trish says
Here is a long-lasting option. They are pricey, but so is stone and (right now) lumber: https://durablegreenbed.com/
Jen says
Fun, isnât it? I canât remember where I read it, but there was a story about a woman with a weird big, flat rock in her yard, where she didnât want it. She tried to pry it, then dig it up to move it, but the farther down she dug, the bigger it seemed. Her husband helped and they spent a day trying. The next day they got their strong young kids to help, but again, the more they dug, the bigger the base was! Well, they hired a handyman and his crew- same! Picks, shovels, rakes, boots- Now it was a big excavation with piles of dirt around, centered with a huge rock. A guy with equipment was hired. It was getting expensive now! They were on a mission, though! He circled the big rock, on his excavator, taking out dirt, moving the growing mounds around, ruining the grass, while a growing audience came and went. At the end of a long day, the hole was deep surrounding the rock, the yard was a mess, the enormous rock sat, unmoving. It turned out the it was a part of an actual mountain. What she thought was an annoying large rock in the yard was like the tip of an iceberg! So they have a $2,000+ rock garden, with some nice bulbs, perennials, a birdbath, etc.
Cheryl says
Love your picket fence. Every time I see one, I think of Tom Sawyer..lol.
Dee says
https://www.hammerandaheadband.com/raised-bed-landscaping
Mavis, take a look at this design …white rocks and white pavers pull in your whole Maine beach vibe:)
Amber says
My friend has a small hobby farm in southern Indiana, and her garden has these beautiful raised beds. If you go to growfully.com, you can see them (and get the plans if you are interested, for free). They are my dream beds haha.
PS I get nothing for sharing that information, I just freaking LOVE her garden beds!
debbie in alaska says
Be cautious of the stones and plants in the total random spot in the yard — it’s possible previous owners buried pets there.
Diana says
Y’know, you might consider getting raised garden beds by Birdie’s. They’re from Australia and are distributed in the US by EpicGardening.com. They come in heights from 15-30″, are metal and have rounded corners. The kits can be configured in several different ways. Another idea might be to use the stock tanks that Tractor Supply sells. Those are what I’m going for when I’m ready for new beds.